Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Students enrolled in our course are encouraged to write for the course blog, and to read and comment on posts from students at other participating universities. The blog offers students the opportunity to analyze current events through the lens of the theory and case studies they engage with through the course.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

When the Army Said No: How Military Defection Toppled Bangladesh’s Autocrat

On the night of August 4, 2024, Bangladesh’s army chief held an emergency video conference with his generals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered troops to enforce a curfew and suppress the massive protests engulfing Dhaka. The generals made their decision: they...
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The BJP’s Influence on Democratic Backsliding

India is experiencing a gradual, institution-driven erosion of democracy under the BJP, as electoral manipulation, weakened judicial independence, and majoritarian policies slowly shift the country toward electoral autocracy while preserving the appearance of democratic rule.

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Drawing the Line in Law: How India’s CAA Turns Citizenship into a Religious Test​

India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) exemplifies how the application of a supposedly technical citizenship law can subvert the democratic boundaries between "citizens" and "non-citizens." By making provisions for the expedited naturalization of select non-Muslim...
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